The waves lapped gently against the cliff as a pair of pained brown eyes watched them. Those same eyes scanned the horizon, looking eagerly for a familiar ship bobbing on the waves.
The sun was warm, the gentle sea breeze soothing. Will Turner, absorbed in his own thoughts, did not notice the glorious Port Royal morning.
And what a morning it was set to be. The whole town was invited to the wedding of Arianna Swann, the niece of the Governor and Elizabeth's cousin.
Will mentally shook himself for even daring to think the name of his old finance. It still hurt to think of how she had so dramatically fallen out of love with him and how quickly she had fallen in love with Commodore Norrington.
After that rather embarrassing turn of events, Will had decided he could no longer stay in Port Royal. Instead, he learned through general but reliable gossip that an old friend of Will's, and the infamous pirate Captain Jack Sparrow would be attending the wedding at Elizabeth's request.
Sure enough, not moments later Will spotted the Black Pearl bobbing gracefully on the horizon, and hurried to the dock to meet it.
***
The dress was suffocating like society. Elizabeth was fluttering around like a beautiful butterfly, all dressed up. She was excited for me, but her excitement was not contagious.
"Arianna dear please cheer up!" She wailed at my lack of a smile.
"Why should I Elizabeth? I'm about to marry a man I'm not in love with." I sighed heavily - an almost impossible task in that dress.
"Jonathon is a good man; wealthy, educated and he adores you. He'd look after you Arianna." She spoke quietly. I felt a rush of bitterness towards her.
"Like Will looked after you?" I murmured.
Elizabeth was my best and closest friend, but I knew the way she treated Will was terrible, when he had loved her so.
"I did not love Will, I loved the danger and the adventure. But you will find no man better than Jonathon."
"I have not had the chance to."
"Consider yourself lucky." Elizabeth placed a hand on my shoulder. "I will be outside if you need me for anything." She smiled, and I nodded. With amazing grace, she walked softly out, leaving me alone.
Almost instantly I sprung into action. From below my bed I produced my packed bag. I hastily changed from my wedding dress into a drab grey dress that would not draw attention to me. But one of my most distinctive features; my fiery red curls must be hidden or I would be noticed. So I pulled from my bag my plain black cloak. I tugged the hood up over my head, and ducked out of the house.
***
"Jack!" Will called when he saw his old friend swagger towards him, his posture suggesting intoxication of some kind.
"Will, nice to see you again. Where's your hat?" He asked, a cheeky grin playing round his mouth and lighting up his kohl rimmed eyes.
"Jack, when you leave tonight I want to come with you." Will blurted. Jack almost recoiled physically with shock.
"Seein' as how it's you, mate. But I'm leavin' sooner than that. I only came to give Elizabeth my regards, and then we're off." Jack explained, and Will nodded - the sooner they left, the better.
***
Arianna slid onto the nearest ship unnoticed. The crew, including the captain were conveniently absent. She immediately went below deck, to find a suitable place to conceal herself.
But the ship was not empty, as she had first guessed. In a rather messy room, she found Will Turner.
"Miss Swann?" He gasped. She flushed, her eyes wide. She had been caught, like a fish in a net.
"Mr Turner, I…um…I'm looking for…" She stammered, searching her horribly blank mind for a feasible excuse.
"A way to escape by any chance?" He asked, smiling softly. Arianna actually smiled back. That smile broke through her mask of cynicism and forced maturity, making her look so young and even more beautiful.
"Yes, you could say that. And you?" She asked politely, as she knew no reason for him to be leaving, except the matter with Elizabeth. And Will had put on a brave face on that matter.
"Same. But I am not running away from my own wedding."
"No, you are running away from your past." She replied thoughtfully, her eyes sliding to the floor.
"Are you stowing away then?" He asked, hoping to change the subject of this rather painful conversation.
"I have money to offer your captain if that is what he wishes." She answered steadily.
"Jack? He likes his women, he'll probably let you stay." Will laughed gently. Like Arianna's youthful smile, it revealed another side of him.
"Good. I have no intention of returning to Port Royal." Her voice was uncharacteristically cold.
"Is he really that bad?" Will asked quietly, his eyes studying the young woman in front of him. Arianna shook her head, sending her flame red curls flying about her pale face.
"No. But I do not love him." She murmured quietly, as if ashamed. But Will found no shame in her answer. In marrying this man, she would be lying to him, to herself, to the world. No matter how much pain she caused now, it would not be as bad as the burden of carrying such a lie. In Will's eyes, she was doing the right thing.
"You would forfeit station for love?" Will smiled, his eyes boring into hers. And attitude like that in a woman of Arianna's position was most refreshing. Arianna melted under his gaze, against her will.
"Every time."
Their eyes met, and there was no denying the attraction between them. But Will was not looking for love; Arianna was unwilling to give hers away so easily.
With great effort, both of them looked away.
***
When Jack returned to the ship, Arianna blanched with panic. Will touched her arm supportively.
"Do not worry over Jack, Arianna. He will let you stay. Come meet him." Will took her hand and dragged her up on deck, where the crew had assembled.
"Well well well, what do we have here?" Jack asked, grinning. His eyes slid from Arianna's pretty face, taking in her pure green eyes and pale skin.
"Jack, this is Arianna Swann."
"The runaway bride to be? Love, you better get back home, everyone is looking for you."
"Jack, she wants to stay on board with us." Will told him. Jack's eyes narrowed. Behind his often drunken stupor, Jack harboured a very sharp intelligence. It was probably the only reason he was still alive.
"That's interesting. But what, my dear, is in it for me?" Jack asked. Arianna stammered and blushed.
"You don't belong to any man on board, do you?" Jack continued. "If you did, perhaps I'd reconsider, I take care of my crew." He spoke softly. Jack was only jesting, but the others did not know this. Of course Jack was going to let the pretty young thing stay, for Will's benefit as much as her own. For it was clear to the pirate captain that young Will had taken quite a shining to this girl. And Jack wanted to see Will feeling better.
Arianna had flushed deeper at his words. Will stepped forward, and nervously ran a hand through his long brown locks.
"What if she belonged to me?" He asked quietly, his voice barely more than a whisper. Jack smiled softly to himself - that was exactly what he wanted Will to say.
"If she's your strumpet Will, then I would be only too happy to oblige." Jack grinned again.
"Well she is." Will replied, determination shining in his eyes. Arianna looked grateful for his lie, for his help.
"Welcome to the Black Pearl Miss Swann." Jack nodded, and with that said, he swaggered off.
***
Elizabeth was panicked and shocked. She could not believe Arianna could be so reckless, so stupid. She had run off, probably to the dock so she could stow away on a boat to god knows where.
"Commodore, check every ship! Get my fiancée back!" Jonathon yelled, his blue eyes dangerously cold, his face shining with fury. The Commodore nodded, and rushed off with his men.
They split up, and the Commodore headed in the direction of the Black Pearl, a ship that was too familiar to him. It was then he saw a familiar red head on the deck, and began to run.
Will saw Commodore Norrington's eyes widen as he spotted Arianna on the ship's deck.
"Arianna, come on!" He snatched up her hand, and pulled her off the ship, onto the docks and in the opposite direction in which he had seen Commodore Norrington head off. It was then he ran into his old friend, the Commodore.
"Mr Turner, release Miss Swann this instant." The Commodore demanded icily. Will glared at him.
"No! I'm not coming back." Arianna replied heatedly, her anger flaring like her red hair.
"Yes you are. This is not the time for such behaviour." He reached out and grabbed her wrist. She yelped in pain, and tried to pull free.
"Let her go." Will's voice was hard and unrelenting.
"What, Turner, will you do if I don't?" The Commodore sneered. Will considered his options for a moment.
Will's fist connected with the jaw of the Commodore with an almighty thwack. He crumpled like a sack of potatoes, and released his grip on Arianna. Will took her hand in his once again.
"Come on, it's time to leave."